Production of Single Core with Waste Zirconia Block

Purpose: Waste parts of zirconia blocks and powders were remained after CAD/CAM process. In order to make these residual zirconia fit for practical use, zirconia single cores were produced by drain casting process. Methods: Remained zirconia blocks were reduced to powders with zirconia mortar, and screened with 180 mesh sieve. Zirconia slip was prepared from waste parts of zirconia by ball milling. Plaster molds for forming cores by slip casting were also prepared. Formed cores were removed from mold after partial drying. Dried cores were biscuit fired at $1,100^{\circ}C$ for 1hour. Biscuit fired cores were treated with tools to control the fitness and thickness. Finished cores were $2^{nd}$ fired at $1,500^{\circ}C$ for 1hour. Microstructure of cross section of core was observed by SEM. Results: When mill pot was filled with 100g of zirconia and alumina mixed powder, 300g of zirconia ball, and 180g of distilled water, the optimum slip for drain casting was obtained. Gypsum plaster for ceramic forming was more suitable then yellow stone plaster for casting process. SEM photograph showed the microstructure of fully dense with uniform grain size of zirconia and well dispersed alumina grains into the zirconia matrix. Conclusion: Zirconia single cores were produced by drain casting process. Drain casting is useful process to make these residual zirconia fit for practical use. Further study will be focused on the preparation of the bridge type cores by casting.

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